NRC to be implemented countrywide, no person of any religion needs to worry: Amit Shah

Addressing the third day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented nationwide and no person should be afraid regardless of their religion.

HM Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: The process of National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be carried out across the country. No one, irrespective of religion should be worried, it is just a process to get everyone under the NRC. pic.twitter.com/mpkitRMLR6

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019

Speaking in the Upper House of the parliament, Shah said that NRC is different from Citizenship Amendment Bill and the two should not be confused. 

"NRC has no such provision which says that no other religion will be taken under NRC. All citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the NRC list. The NRC is different from Citizenship Amendment Bill," he said.

He further added that Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi refugees should get citizenship and that is why Citizenship Amendment Bill is needed so that these refugees who are being discriminated on basis of religion in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, get Indian citizenship.

On the issue of the names excluded from the final draft of the NRC in Assam, Shah said, "People whose names are not in the NRC have the right to approach the tribunal. Assam government is also ready to foot the expenses of people who can't afford a legal counsel".

HM Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on NRC: People whose name has not figured in the draft list have the right to go to the Tribunal. Tribunals will be constituted across Assam.If any person doesn't have the money to approach Tribunal, then Assam govt to bear the cost to hire a lawyer pic.twitter.com/Z1hFwLortx

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2019

The updated final NRC of Assam, which validates bonafide Indian citizens, has left out over 19 lakh applicants.